Meditation Found To Increase Brain SizePeople who meditate grow bigger brains than those who don't. Researchers at Harvard, Yale, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have found the first evidence that meditation can alter the physical structure of our brains. Brain scans they conducted reveal that experienced meditators boasted increased thickness in parts of the brain that deal with attention and processing sensory input. In one area of gray matter, the thickening turns out to be more pronounced in older than in younger people. That's intriguing because those sections of the human cortex, or thinking cap, normally get thinner as we age. "Our data suggest that meditation practice can promote cortical plasticity in adults in areas important for cognitive and emotional processing and well-being," says Sara Lazar, leader of the study and a psychologist at Harvard Medical School. The researchers compared brain scans of 20 experienced meditators with those of 15 nonmeditators. Controlling random thoughts Slowing aging?

nootropics / smart-drugs6 Random Things (Other Than Drugs) That Reduce PainYour nearest drugstore is full of completely fake pain remedies, from shoe magnets to magical ground-up shark bones. But while these new age medicines are little more than placebos, science has found a whole lot of unexpected -- and downright weird -- ways you can control pain without ever swallowing a pill. Things like ... There is more to life than money. "Seriously Rick, stop tracking that shit into my house." Not exactly. A stack of Franklins does more than any sled. That is, the people who got to hold money right before shoving their hands into hot water found the temperature more bearable than those who held regular paper. Based on these results, the researchers think money might also help lessen emotional pain, making things like breakups easier to deal with. "You keep right on banging my brother, Shelly!" In our ever-expanding society, "comfort eating" has become a pretty familiar concept. Such as the Gingerdead Man. But that's just because we're a gluttonous culture, right?

What-Went-Well Exercise by Brian Johnson“Every night for the next week, set aside ten minutes before you go to sleep. Write down three things that went well today and why they went well. You may use a journal or your computer to write about events, but it is important that you have a physical record of what you wrote. The three things need not be earthshaking in importance (“My husband picked up my favorite ice cream for dessert on the way home from work today”), but they can be important (“My sister just gave birth to a healthy baby boy”). Next to each positive event, answer the question “Why did this happen?” For example, if you wrote that your husband picked up ice cream, write “because my husband is really thoughtful sometimes” or “because I remembered to call him from work and remind him to stop by the grocery store.” Writing about why the positive events in your life happened may seem awkward at first, but please stick with it for one week. What went well today and why?

13 Tips on How to Overcome PassivityEdit Article Edited by Gabrielle Delacroix, Lillian May, Krystle, Eric and 8 others Do you often find yourself wanting to do something, but never having the courage to just do it? Are you tired of feeling too weak to do even the most basic things? Does it seem that something always stops you from doing what you want, or you're always waiting for someone or something to give you a "push" before you act? Ad Steps 1Understand why you tend to act passive. 13Make your life less boring. Tips Don't analyze a situation too much before acting.

ABC Worksheet, ABCs of REBT, rational therapy abc chart, REBT, RWhile it may seem odd at the beginning, you want to start somewhat backwards. Start with the (C). ( A) ACTIVATING EVENT After you complete (C), come back here and describe what was happening at the time you became upset/stressed/angry/anxious/depressed/guilty/etc. Note where you were, who was there, what was going on, etc. (B) BELIEFS 1) list the irrational Beliefs (iBs) that lead to (C) (list the iBs that led to your reaction/behavior) 2) list replacement rational Beliefs (rBs), which are those that are measurable, objective, rooted in reality (C) CONSEQUENCES (of A) List here what you felt--your self defeating behaviors that you want to change, such as anger, anxiety, depression, guilt, self-loathing, feelings of worthlessness, awfulizing, low frustration tolerance, etc. (D) DISPUTES for each IRRATIONAL BELIEF (iB) List here how you dispute each iB, and replace with an rB. Examples of disputing iBs and replacing with rBs . 1. DISPUTE: Why MUST I do very well? 2. 3. 4. 5.

How to Detect Lies - body language, reactions, speech patternsInteresting Info -> Lying Index -> How to Detect Lies Become a Human Lie Detector (Part 1) Warning: sometimes ignorance is bliss. After gaining this knowledge, you may be hurt when it is obvious that someone is lying to you. The following deception detection techniques are used by police, forensic psychologists, security experts and other investigators. Introduction to Detecting Lies: This knowledge is also useful for managers, employers, and for anyone to use in everyday situations where telling the truth from a lie can help prevent you from being a victim of fraud/scams and other deceptions. This is just a basic run down of physical (body language) gestures and verbal cues that may indicate someone is being untruthful. If you got here from somewhere else, be sure to check out our Lie Detection index page for more info including new research in the field of forensic psychology. Signs of Deception: Body Language of Lies: • A person who is lying to you will avoid making eye contact. Bored?

How To Train Yourself To Be In The Mood You WantDec 27, 2010 When you have major changes going on in your life, or you’re just frustrated about where you are, it’s easy to get trapped in a cycle of depression, bad moods and frustration. I know, I’ve been there … and when I’m not careful, I still get there more than I want to. But when I’ve had a particularly hard time, I hit these moments where I’m in a foul mood, or I’m just feeling paralyzed, and I’m just stuck. Sometimes I just stew in that and stay there, but sometimes I actually get intelligent and pull my way out of it. I’m going to outline the framework that I’ve been using successfully to really get myself resourceful and motivated (and in a better mood) when I’m feeling stuck. First Up: Using A Framework to Escape From Paralyzing Emotions When we feel bad, it’s hard to “feel good” again. The reason for this is that steps take the emotion out of our situation and give us direction to simply act. A: AGREE With Yourself That You Don’t Want To Be In This Mood Right Now. Dave

Scientists prove it really is a thin line between love and hate - Science - NewsScientists studying the physical nature of hate have found that some of the nervous circuits in the brain responsible for it are the same as those that are used during the feeling of romantic love – although love and hate appear to be polar opposites. A study using a brain scanner to investigate the neural circuits that become active when people look at a photograph of someone they say they hate has found that the "hate circuit" shares something in common with the love circuit. The findings could explain why both hate and romantic love can result in similar acts of extreme behaviour – both heroic and evil – said Professor Semir Zeki of University College London, who led the study published in the on-line journal PloS ONE. "Hate is often considered to be an evil passion that should, in a better world, be tamed, controlled and eradicated. Yet to the biologist, hate is a passion that is of equal interest to love," Professor Zeki said.

7 Ways To Keep It Together When You Want To Fall ApartLife isn’t always fair. Accidents happen, marriages end, businesses fail and loved ones pass on. When your world crumbles, it's difficult to keep yourself intact. Believe me: I’ve been there. After the financial betrayal of my ex-husband, I lost my award-winning business, went bankrupt and had to accept that my marriage was a lie. I very nearly came undone. Keeping it together when you want to fall apart isn’t easy. 1. Emotional turmoil complicates even the simple things. If you find yourself worrying about an issue, consider whether you have the power to change it. Your energy levels are likely depleted; use what remains to address the things you can control. 2. Burying your emotions can make you feel overwhelmed, isolated and cause a rapid decline in well-being. By sharing your thoughts, you will release the pressure buildup, and give yourself the opportunity to view the situation from a new perspective. Remember, a problem shared is a problem halved. 3. 4. 5. Think about your family.